\Samvad

Margshirsha  Shukla 4 Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125 : 16 December, 2023: SM 5018 (For Private Circulation only)


1. FESTIVALS: MAKAR SANKRANTI 2. BHARAT’S RESEARCH MOMENTUM SET TO SOAR : DR BHAGWAT
3. ‘RAM PHIR LAUTE’ BOOK RELEASE 4. YOGA - BHARAT’S INVALUABLE GIFT TO WORLD: MURMU
5. BHARAT CHARTS ITS COURSE TO RECLAIM NATION GLORY AS VISHWAGURU: DHANKHAR 6. MOHAN BHAGWAT, PREM ANAND MAHARAJ DIALOGUE 
7. V BHAGAIAH CALLS FOR PEACE IN MANIPUR 8. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ABROGATION OF ARTICLE 370
9. 69TH ABVP NATIONAL CONFERENCE 10. SEWA DIWALI 2023
11. HOUSTON’S HINDU YOUTH WILL SOON HAVE A SUMMER CAMPSITE OF THEIR OWN 12. GARBA INSCRIBED AS INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY
13. STATUE OF THIRUVALLUVAR UNVEILED IN FRANCE 14. DR. JASVANT MODI DONATES $800K TO INTRODUCE JAIN STUDIES AT CSUN
15. BHARAT-NEPAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL INAUGURATED 16. SEVA BHARTI’S FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS IN CHENNAI
17. BHARAT ANNOUNCES ONE MILLION DOLLARS RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA 18. CHANGED LOGO OF NMC INCLUDES DHANWANTARI
19. ADITYA-L1 MISSION: ISRO ACTIVATES SECOND INSTRUMENT ON SOLAR SPACECRAFT 20. ISRO SCIENTIST LALITHAMBIKA CONFERRED HIGHEST FRENCH CIVILIAN AWARD
21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Article: ‘HINDUTVA, SANATAN DHARMA TO DEFINE HINDUS’


1. FESTIVALS: MAKAR SANKRANTI: Makar Sankranti (January 15), also referred to as Uttarayana, is a Hindu festival that marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius (Dhanu) to Capricorn (Makara). Many multi-day festivals are organised on this occasion all over Bharat. It is also celebrated in many parts of the South Asia with some regional variations.

The festivities are known by various names including Magh Bihu (Assam), Maghi Saaji (Himachal Pradesh), Maghi Sangrand (Punjab and Jammu), Sakrat (Haryana and Rajasthan), Sukarat (Central Bharat), Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Ghughuti (Uttarakhand), Dahi Chura (Bihar), Maghe Sankranti (Nepal), Songkran (Thailand), Thingyan (Myanmar) and Mohan Songkran (Cambodia). On Makar Sankranti, Surya Bhagwan is worshipped along with Vishnu and Lakshmi Mata. Makar Sankranti is observed with social festivities and many go to sacred rivers or lakes and bathe in a ceremony of worship to the Surya Bhagwan. Kumbha Mela is held once every twelve years on Makar Sankranti. -GoTop


2. BHARAT’S RESEARCH MOMENTUM SET TO SOAR : DR BHAGWAT: At the inauguration of the next-generation sequencing facilities at the Central India Institute of Medical Science (CIIMS) in Nagpur on December 3, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat expressed confidence in Bharat’s burgeoning research capabilities, asserting that the country is gaining momentum and will soon overcome challenges with its rich knowledge base.

Speaking to a gathering of medical researchers, doctors and scientists, Bhagwat highlighted Bharat’s historical prowess in various fields, stating that the nation was at the forefront of science and other disciplines before facing setbacks due to invasions and periods of slavery. He emphasised the resilience of the Bharatiya spirit, noting that the country has steadily progressed in the last two decades, reclaiming its position as a global knowledge hub. -GoTop


3. ‘RAM PHIR LAUTE’ BOOK RELEASE: The book ‘Ram Phir Laute’, highlighting the historic and glorious journey of the reconstruction of Shri Ram Mandir, was released by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, Swami Gyananand Maharaj, Justice Hemant Gupta and VHP’s International Working President Alok Kumar on December 9 at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The author of the book is senior journalist Hemant Sharma.

Speaking on the occasion, Hosabale said that Ram is Shubh (auspicious) and Mangal (propitious) and represent inspiration, faith, and conviction. After 14 years of exile, Bhagwan Shri Ram returned to the royal palace, and now, after 500 years of struggle, he is returning on January 22, 2024 to the grand mandir being built at His place of Avataran. There was a movement for the liberation of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi mandir for national integration and reassertion of cultural nationalism. Ram Mandir is not just another mandir or tourist centre, but a national centripetal and pivotal hub of pilgrimage.
Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj said that the foundation of not only the Ram mandir but the Rashtra mandir and national pride is being laid in Ayodhya. Ram is our inspiration, our identity, our pride and self-respect.
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4. YOGA - BHARAT’S INVALUABLE GIFT TO WORLD: MURMU: Rashtrapati Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a national conference on ‘Integration of Yoga in School Education System-Manifesting The Thought’ organised by Kaivalyadhama as part of its centenary year celebrations at Lonavala on November 29. Speaking on the occasion, Murmu said that yoga is Bharat’s invaluable gift to the world.

She highlighted that in its resolution, the United Nations General Assembly had observed that the practice of yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being and is beneficial for the health of the entire world community.
 “Yoga is considered as an effective means of physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual progress,” she said.
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5. BHARAT CHARTS ITS COURSE TO RECLAIM NATION GLORY AS VISHWAGURU: DHANKHAR: On December 10, UpRashtrapati Jagdeep Dhankhar said that Bharat is charting its course to reclaim its glory as ‘Viswaguru’ and it is going to be the third largest economy by the end of this decade. Speaking at the platinum jubilee celebration of XLRI in Jamshedpur, Dhankhar said that the country is standing at the threshold of the fourth industrial revolution. “It is indeed a transformative era propelled by cutting-edge technologies.” he said while addressing the students and faculties of the institution.

Bharat’s efficient digital payment system is now being adopted by nations like Singapore, he said and added that the World Bank recently said that what Bharat has accomplished in six years for digital inclusion would typically take 47 years. -GoTop


6. MOHAN BHAGWAT, PREM ANAND MAHARAJ DIALOGUE: During a conversation between Dr. Mohan Bhagwat and Prem Anand Maharaj of Vrindavan,  Prem Anand Maharaj emphasised the spiritual aspect of serving the nation. Maharaj asserted that the younger generation, nurtured with spiritual values, becomes the backbone of the nation. He emphasised that our nation is a divine entity, and by connecting with the divine, one can contribute positively to its progress. In the dialogue, Dr Mohan Bhagwat discussed the multifaceted role of the RSS in shaping the destiny of the nation.

The meeting between Dr Mohan Bhagwat and Prem Anand Maharaj underscored the significance of spiritual practices, devotion, and selfless service in national development. The leaders urged individuals to rise above materialism, address the intellectual and spiritual needs of the youth, and embrace a path guided by divine principles. The dialogue served as a call to action, inspiring a spiritual renaissance for the betterment of the individual and the nation. -GoTop


7. V BHAGAIAH CALLS FOR PEACE IN MANIPUR: In a bid to promote peace and solidarity in Manipur, V Bhagaiah, a senior member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), addressed a gathering of around 600 internally displaced people (IDP) during a programme jointly organised by Seva Bharati Manipur and Manipur Seva Samiti on December 12. The event took place at the government-run shelter home at Sawombung in the Imphal East district.

Bhagaiah emphasised the need for collective efforts to restore normalcy despite the prevailing challenging situation. He said that all the attendees were the sons and daughters of Bharat Mata and hence part of one large family. In his closing remarks, Bhagaiah reiterated the significance of education as a tool for empowerment and urged the displaced people to focus on the academic development of their children.
As part of the program, 532 blankets and study materials were distributed to the IDPs, providing much needed relief to those affected by displacement.
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8. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ABROGATION OF ARTICLE 370: On December 11, the Supreme Court upheld the Union Government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and said that every decision taken by the Centre on behalf of a State can't be subject to a legal challenge. 

A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice of Bharat DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant delivered the verdict. It was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories.
Supreme Court said that it has held that Article 370 was a temporary provision. The apex court also mentioned that the argument of petitioners that the Union government cannot take actions of irreversible consequences in the State during Presidential rule is not acceptable. "We have held that the state of Jammu and Kashmir did not retain an element of sovereignty when it joined the Union of India." CJI Chandrachud said.
The CJI further noted that on November 25, 1949, a proclamation was issued for the State of Jammu and Kashmir by "Yuvraj Karan Singh". "The declaration on this proclamation, that the Constitution of India would not only supersede all other constitutional provisions in the state, which were inconsistent with it, but also abrogate them, achieves what could have been attained by an agreement of merger. With the issuance of the proclamation, paragraph of the instrument of acession ceases to be of legal consequence. The proclamation reflects the full and final surrender of sovereignty by Jammu and Kashmir through its sovereign ruler to India " CJI added further.
The Supreme Court said "The declaration issued by the President exercises the power and clause 3 of Article 370 is a culmination of the process of integration. Thus, we do not find that the President's exercise of power under Clause 3 of Article 370 was malafide. We hold the exercise of Presidential Power to be valid.". The Supreme Court also directed the Election Commission to hold Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections by September 30, 2024.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said that the Supreme Court verdict on Article 370 will strengthen national unity. Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS Sunil Ambekar said that RSS has been opposing Article 370 of the Constitution since the beginning and welcomes this decision.
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9. 69TH ABVP NATIONAL CONFERENCE: The 69th National Conference of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) hosted at ‘Indraprastha Nagar’, a tent city at DDA Ground, commenced on December 7. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the National Conference on December 8. The second day of the ABVP National Conference concluded with a drone-show featuring 500 drones, adding a technological touch to the conference.

ABVP, the world’s largest student organisation, marked the third day of the conference with a grand ‘Shobha Yatra’ and ‘Open Conference’. On December 9, more than 10,000 students dressed in diverse traditional attire participated in the ‘Shobha Yatra,’ commencing from the ABVP National Conference venue and concluding at Maurice Nagar Chowk, Delhi University, in front of Daulat Ram College. The 4.5 km route witnessed enthusiastic participation of students representing various states and showcased the cultural diversity of Bharat. The ‘Shobha Yatra’ concluded with an ‘Open Conference’ at Maurice Nagar Chowk where student-leaders addressed the participating students on crucial issues pertaining to education and contemporary developments. -GoTop


10. SEWA DIWALI 2023: Sewa Diwali is an endeavor by a coalition of Bharatiya American organizations and individuals deeply rooted in Hindu values and it is fueled by the shared belief that the well-being of society is a responsibility shared by all. This dedicated group achieved remarkable success by conducting the Sewa Diwali food drive across 32 states, encompassing over 200 townships, and involving more than 300 organizations. The volunteers who contributed to this noble cause come from diverse backgrounds, including school students, working professionals, and entrepreneurs from various walks of life.

Sewa Diwali donated 16,000 lbs of canned and dry food at Parsippany Food Pantry, Interfaith Food Pantry at the Morris Plains location, Morristown Soup Kitchen, Denville, Montville Food Pantry, and surrounding North Jersey towns.  
The Sewa Diwali team showed their appreciation for local law enforcement by donating 250 pounds of food to the Plano Police Department. The community has collectively amassed over 71,300 pounds of food over several weeks, contributing to an ongoing effort that spans multiple organizations and scores of volunteers, according to the Plano Texas Police Department.
As part of the Sewa Diwali initiative, local Hindu mandirs donated 1,600 pounds of food as well as other items to the Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria, Illinois. Center for Prevention of Abuse CEO Carol Merna said it’s an event she looks forward to every year.
The North Houston region collected and donated over 4100 lbs of food during the festive season through Sewa Diwali. On November 20, 2023, HSS donated 2600 lbs to Family Hope Fulshear. On behalf of Fort Bend County and Fulshear residents, Mr. Abhi Utturkar, Fulshear City Council Member District 5, thanked and congratulated HSS for this initiative.
The volunteers of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh AZ and Sewa International AZ accompanied by members of the local Hindu Community made a trip to Flagstaff, AZ to hand over the proceeds of Sewa Diwali to beneficiaries from the Navajo Nation Native Tribes.
In the suburb of Naperville, 3,750 pounds of food were donated to Loaves Fishes of Naperville and were accepted by Juan Jacquaz, food marketing manager. This event was graced by community and interfaith leaders Lynn Pries, president of NILA, and Porus Dadabhoy, president of United for Peace.
Similarly, in the suburb of Aurora, 2,527 pounds of food and $2,000 were donated to Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and were accepted by Heather Short.
More than 60 Bharatiya American groups contributed about 10,000 pounds of food in the western Chicagoland suburbs this year as part of the SewaDiwali efforts.
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11. HOUSTON’S HINDU YOUTH WILL SOON HAVE A SUMMER CAMPSITE OF THEIR OWN: The Hindu Heritage Youth Camp, the predominant Hindu summer program based in Houston, officially began construction of the Texas Hindu Campsite on a 52-acre plot of land after a Bhumi Pujan on November 8. The Bhumi Pujan was attended by members of various Hindu religious organizations including priests from the 45 mandirs in the greater Houston area.

The campsite is set to open for a new round of campers by the summer of 2024. From daily yoga to mini festivals like Holi, the camp centers on approachable Hinduism, life lessons that are deeply spiritual just as much as they are fun. Vijay Pallod, a longtime volunteer of HHYC and founder of hindusofhouston.org said that this will unite the Hindu community and this is where the future Hindu leaders are going to come from. -GoTop


12. GARBA INSCRIBED AS INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY: On December 6, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed ‘Garba of Gujarat’ on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 18th session, which took place in Kasane, Botswana from December 5-9. The inclusion of Garba now makes it Bharat’s 15th inscription on the list.

A ritualistic and devotional dance performed throughout the State of Gujarat, and across Bharat, Garba is celebrated for nine days during the festival of Navaratri. The cultural, performative, and visual expressions of the feminine energy Shakti are expressed through the Garba dance. To celebrate this honour, a group of people gathered at New York’s Times Square in traditional attires and performed Garba. -GoTop

 

13. STATUE OF THIRUVALLUVAR UNVEILED IN FRANCE: A statue of Thiruvalluvar was inaugurated in the French town of Cergy on December 10. Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said the statue is a "beautiful testament to our shared cultural bonds".

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the statue will guide many to follow Thiruvalluvar's noble thoughts and is yet another symbol of the long-standing cultural links, a key pillar of Bharat-French friendship. Bharat's envoy to France Jawed Ashraf also mentioned the inauguration of the statue in a post on 'X'. -GoTop


14. DR. JASVANT MODI DONATES $800K TO INTRODUCE JAIN STUDIES AT CSUN: California State University, Northridge (CSUN) has announced a substantial donation of $800,000 by Dr. Jasvant Modi, a retired gastroenterologist and philanthropist, and his wife Dr. Meera Modi. The funds are designated to support the Bhagvan Ajitnath Endowed Professorship in Jain Studies within the Department of Religious Studies, College of Humanities. This landmark gift marks a significant step in promoting the understanding of Jainism, a major religion from early Bharat.

Dr. Jasvant Modi said that establishing a professorship at CSUN is a significant step towards educating others about Jainism's teachings of nonviolence, non-possessiveness, and plurality.
Dr. Modi and his wife, Meera, are passionate about spreading the faith of Jainism through educational and medical work, both in the United States and in their home country of Bharat.
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15. BHARAT-NEPAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL INAUGURATED: The Embassy of Bharat in Nepal, in collaboration with Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, organised the inaugural Bharat-Nepal Cultural Festival in Lumbini. “The festival showcased the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Bharat and Nepal, with a focus on Buddhism.” a release from the Bharatiya Embassy stated. The festival was inaugurated on December 9 jointly by Ambassador of Bharat to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal Sudan Kirati, and Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary.

The inauguration ceremony also included a photo exhibition which featured a collection of photographs of Buddhist heritage sites and the evening was marked by a vibrant cultural programme featuring performances by artists from Bharat and Nepal.
As a part of this festival, an academic seminar titled “Exploring the Impact of Buddhist Teachings on Community Development and Global Well-Being” was also organised at Lumbini Buddhist University.
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16. SEVA BHARTI’S FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS IN CHENNAI: The Maichung cyclone wreaked havoc in early December, leaving several areas in North-Eastern Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, inundated. In response, Seva Bharati, RSS, and Ramakrishna Math, have been actively engaged in relief activities. Seva Bharathi deployed its volunteers for relief activities. Essential items, including food, provisions, vegetables, cooking oil, baby food, milk, bread, biscuits, bed sheets, paste, and medicines were collected and community kitchens were set up to prepare food for distribution in the affected regions.

The volunteers ventured into the affected areas, distributing essentials and food packets, and left their contact numbers for any further assistance, be it medical help or evacuating the elderly to safer places. Seva Bharati responded to more than 3,000 calls from affected individuals seeking assistance. Seva Bharati also collaborated with officials in rescue operations and transported patients to safety or facilitated their admission to nearby hospitals. -GoTop


17. BHARAT ANNOUNCES ONE MILLION DOLLARS RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Bharat has announced 1 million dollars immediate relief assistance to Papua New Guinea after the volcanic eruption of Mount Ulawun. The Ministry of External Affairs said that Bharat extends deep sympathy to the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea for the damage and destruction caused by the disaster. It added that Bharat has extended immediate relief assistance to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts as a close friend and development partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Papua New Guinea.  The volcanic eruption of Mount Ulawun on November 20 has so far forced the evacuation of more than 26,000 people and created urgent humanitarian needs.
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18. CHANGED LOGO OF NMC INCLUDES DHANWANTARI: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has modified its official logo, replacing the word “India’ with “Bharat” and adding a colour image of the Devata of Ayurveda, Dhanwantari. As per the National Medical Commission’s website, NMC was established by an act of Parliament known as the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which went into effect on September 25, 2020,

Earlier, the Union health ministry announced that the Ayushman Bharat health and wellness centres had been renamed to Ayushman Arogya Mandir with the tagline ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’. -GoTop


19. ADITYA-L1 MISSION: ISRO ACTIVATES SECOND INSTRUMENT ON SOLAR SPACECRAFT: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on December 2 that Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload onboard Bharat's first solar satellite Aditya-L1, has commenced its operations and started working normally.
According to the space agency, ASPEX comprises two instruments – the Solar Wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) and Supra Thermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS).

 The space agency further said that the directional capabilities of SWIS allow for accurate measurements of solar wind alphas and protons, which significantly aids in answering long-standing concerns regarding the characteristics of the solar wind, its underlying processes, and its effects on Earth. Aditya-L1, Bharat's first solar mission, was launched September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota. The mission aims to study the Sun from a halo orbit around first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1), which is located roughly 1.5 million km from Earth. -GoTop


20. ISRO SCIENTIST LALITHAMBIKA CONFERRED HIGHEST FRENCH CIVILIAN AWARD: V R Lalithambika - the former director of Directorate of the Human Spaceflight Programme at ISRO - was honoured with the prestigious Légion d'honneur, the highest French civilian award, on November 28. This recognition was bestowed upon her in appreciation of her significant contributions to fostering space cooperation between France and Bharat. The accolade was presented to her by the Ambassador of France to Bharat, Thierry Mathou on behalf of the French government.

Lalithambika, an accomplished scientist at ISRO specialising in advanced launch vehicle technology, has notably contributed to various ISRO rockets, with a particular focus on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). In 2018, while serving as the Director of the Human Spaceflight Programme, she collaborated closely with the French National Space Agency (Centre national d'études spatiales - CNES) for Bharat's Gaganyaan project.
Lalithambika played a key role in facilitating the signing of the initial collaborative agreement between CNES and ISRO on human spaceflight, enabling the exchange of specialists in space medicine between the two countries. In 2021, she coordinated with CNES for the signing of a second agreement between France and Bharat pertaining to the Bharatiya astronaut programme.
French Ambassador Mathou expressed his delight in conferring the Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur on Dr. V.R. Lalithambika, acknowledging her as a distinguished scientist and trailblazer in space technology. Upon receiving the award, Lalithambika expressed her sincere hope that this honor would inspire more women to pursue STEM careers and excel in their chosen fields.
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21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors: Jharna Dixit - South Africa, Rajat Gupta - Ireland, Suhas Biwalkar - USA


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “If I love myself despite my infinite faults, how can I hate anyone at the glimpse of a few faults.” - Swami Vivekananda.
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JAI SHRI RAM
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‘HINDUTVA, SANATAN DHARMA TO DEFINE HINDUS’

K BADRINATH

How does one define Hindu? Is it Hinduism or Hindutva? What’s ‘Sanatan Dharna’?
These precise questions were sought to be addressed at three-day World Hindu Congress (WHC) that was held in Thai capital, Bangkok.
Over 2000 top prominent Dharmic leaders, organizations and stakeholders from 61 countries met for a quadrennial marathon session that ended on Sunday. At the brainstorming sessions, serious effort seems to have been made to clear air on ‘Hindutva’ as a concept, philosophy and universal sustainable way of life.
In a significant declaration adopted on Friday, Hindu leadership rejected ‘ism’ as a suffix or affix to describe ‘Hindus’. Instead, the universal philosophy adhered to by over 1.2 billion people in about 100 countries will now be known by ‘Hindutva’ or ‘Hinduness’.

For starters, Hinduism, Hindutva and Hinduness may not make much of a difference. But, for practitioners, Hindutva defines their way of life outlined in ‘Sanatan Dharma’, eternal abode of everything that a righteous Hindu individual, family, community stands for, both animate and inanimate.
Rejection of the very word, ‘Hinduism’ is all the more important. As the ‘ism’ was associated with 150-years old conspiracy to depict Hindus or Hindutva with ‘oppressive and discriminatory attitude’ or belief. Well, if one were to simply delve into very origins of ‘Hinduism’, it definitely was part of a larger conspiracy to discredit one of the oldest civilizations through which humanity evolved.
‘The isms’ were routinely attached to regressive, retrogressive, radical religious or spiritual movements. Isms were derogatory and negative apart from being divisive in spirit and content. ‘Isms’ were also attached to non-mainstream and fringe movements. Given this historical context, World Hindu Congress’ that prides itself as the largest congregation of Hindus globally, rejected and totally discarded ‘Hinduism’.
Yet another reason for World Hindu Congress to discard ‘Hinduism’ was the very origins of this coinage. Hinduism was introduced and popularised by Monier Williams through his handbook on Hinduism. Let’s not ignore the fact that this handbook on ‘Hinduism’ was published way back in 1877 by Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge.
With this in the backdrop, one can easily infer the motive behind this intellectual dishonesty possibly committed as part of a larger game plan to build anti-Hindu narratives, demonize the civilization and not spare even the most pious and spiritual leaders in Hindu pantheon including the sages and saints.
World Hindu Congress seems geared up to expose this well thought out 150-year-old well-crafted plan.
Rightly, Hindus globally seem to have signalled shift away from this conspiracy and be represented by ‘Hindutva’ or ‘Hinduness’ that’s more inclusive and an all-encompassing philosophy outlined by ‘Sanatan Dharma’. Hindutva as defined by World Hindu Congress is simpler and represents eternal nature of its philosophy and the way of life distinct to Hindus over millennia. Again, juxtaposing Hindutva against Sanatan Dharma owing to political expediency or individual prejudices was recognized by the World Hindu Congress through its declaration adopted unanimously. By placing Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma on diametrically opposite stands is perhaps one way of attacking everything that’s good and beautiful in the way of life itself.
In fact, Hindu centric Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat went a step further to explain how it was misrepresented to fuel bigotry. Hindutva was above all the ‘isms’ like capitalism, communism and materialism is what Dr. Bhagwat asserted during inaugural session of World Hindu Congress last Friday. Even if these ‘isms’ and religions led to some materialistic gains for a few, happiness, bliss and peace was something that were found wanting even today.
Dr. Bhagwat’s speech explained in some detail ‘inclusiveness’ of Hindutva while differentiating it from what’s sought to be depicted by the rival ecosystem. For instance, ‘all sampradayas’ or traditions led to ultimate purification under the wider Hindutva umbrella. This tolerant umbrella was willing to not accommodate just Bharatiya traditions but also foreign faith practitioners that descended on Bharat over ages.
This year’s theme for World Hindu Congress was, ‘Jayasya Aayatnam Dharmah’, which loosely translated to mean “Dharma, the abode of victory”. Here again, the intent was made very clear. RSS sarsanghchalak said in no uncertain terms that Hindus were not seeking or looking at victory over ‘anyone else’. Instead, Hindus seek victory for all in progress, development and spread of prosperity at materialistic, spiritual and meta-physical levels. Mata Amritanandamayi added another spec to Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma. Amritanandamayi also known as ‘amma’ (the mother) from Kerala state pointed to Supreme Consciousness and Supreme Knowledge of the universe that differentiated Hindutva from others.
World Hindu Congress decision to move ahead with Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma are a significant step going forward. This will be precursor to Hindus seeking to play a meaningful role in global affairs to realize ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, entire humanity as one big family.
(The author is Director and Chief Executive of New Delhi based non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies)
https://vskbharat.com/hindutva-sanatan-dharma-to-define-hindus/?lang=en 
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